NDSU was recently awarded a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Phil McClean, professor of plant sciences, is leading the project, titled "BeanCAP: A Coordinated Agricultural Project." NDSU is the lead institution and is collaborating with 18 scientists from nine other universities and USDA-Agricultural Research Service locations.

The project will incorporate research, education and outreach components around the area of nutritional genomics of common bean (pinto beans, string beans, etc.). The research goal of the project is to incorporate the tools of translational genomics into public plant breeders' programs with the aim of improving the nutritional value of beans. The project also aims to educate and train high school and beginning undergraduate students in plant breeding and how it interacts with the field of translational genomics. Finally, the project will develop Web-based platforms to disseminate knowledge of nutrition and genomics to the general public.

Additional NDSU personnel involved with the grant include Julie Garden-Robinson, food and nutrition specialist and associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise science; Christina Johnson, computer graphics manager in plant sciences; Juan Osorno, assistant professor of plant sciences; and Brian Slator, professor of computer science.